I love small kids. Today a 2yo held the door for me (it was automatic; he just held the edge after it opened) and when I thanked him he smiled and said, happily, “No!” A week or two ago I had a while conversation with a 1yo in a stroller like “You don’t say? That’s so cool, bro!” and he just kept up with it like “Dah! Da ba dah! Do! Bhaaaaaaa!” Yesterday a kid in the elevator who was too shy to talk quietly whispered to his mom, “Farting!” before letting one rip. I fucking love the kids; they make this job so much better.

Life’s tough sometimes, but then your cousin has a baby and you see his cute, squishy cheeks on your phone, all swaddled up and fresh to the world, and things are just a little bit better.